Friday, July 31, 2009

Public hearing set for prescription law in Jefferson County

HILLSBORO — Jefferson County council members want to hear what the public hasto say before moving ahead with a proposal to require prescriptions for somecold and allergy medications that can be used to make meth.

A public hearing has been scheduled for 7 p.m. Aug. 18 at the County Councilchambers.

County Executive Chuck Banks proposed the idea of requiring a prescription forproducts containing pseudoephedrine, such as Claritin D or Sudafed, shortlyafter Washington, Mo., City Council members approved the measure there earlierthis month.

Banks said he wants to ensure that everyone who can write a prescription,including nurse practitioners, is covered by the bill and wants to learnwhether some forms of pseudoephedrine products should be excluded from the billif they cannot be converted into meth.

"We are not trying to keep anyone from getting medication, we're trying torestrict meth cookers from getting access to the ingredient they need," Bankssaid.

Washington council members did not make exceptions for pseudoephedrine productsin its ordinance — the first of its kind in the nation. Franklin County Sgt.Jason Grellner said exceptions serve as loopholes and all pseudoephedrineproducts can be turned into meth.

Several organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union and theConsumer Healthcare Products Association, have contacted Washington cityofficials urging them to repeal the ordinance. Council members will vote Mondayon whether to do so.

Meanwhile, momentum seems to be building in surrounding cities such as Union,St. Clair and Sullivan, where officials have begun considering similarordinances.

Banks said that should Jefferson County approve such an ordinance, he wants itto be something surrounding counties can use.

"Even if we don't pass the ordinance, at least we will have brought the issueback to the forefront," Banks said.